Akbar Express
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Inter-city rail | ||||
| Status | Suspended | ||||
| Locale | Quetta | ||||
| Predecessor | Quetta Express | ||||
| First service | 5 August 1974 | ||||
| Last service | 23 March 2020 | ||||
| Successor | Pakistan Railways | ||||
| Current operator(s) | Pakistan Railways | ||||
| Former operator(s) | Pakistan Railways | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | Quetta Lahore | ||||
| Stops | 30 | ||||
| Distance travelled | 1,225 kilometres (761 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 24 hours 20 Minutes | ||||
| Train number(s) | 23UP (Quetta→Lahore) 24DN (Lahore→Quetta) | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | First Class Sleeper Economy AC Standard | ||||
| Seating arrangements | Available | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | Available | ||||
| Catering facilities | Available | ||||
| Baggage facilities | Available | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Operating speed | 120 km/h | ||||
| Track owner(s) | Pakistan Railways | ||||
| Timetable number(s) | 23 UP 24DN | ||||
| |||||
The Akbar Express (Urdu: اکبر ایکسپریس, Balochi: اکبر ایکسپریس) is a passenger train operated daily by Pakistan Railways between Quetta and Lahore. The trip takes approximately 23 hours and 30 minutes to cover a published distance of 1,225 kilometres (761 mi), traveling along the Rohri–Chaman Railway Line, Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line, Khanewal–Wazirabad Branch Line and the Shahdara Bagh–Sangla Hill Branch Line. Akbar express is the only train which connects Faisalabad with Quetta.
History
[edit]The Akbar Express was previously known as the Quetta Express. In August 2013, it was renamed to Akbar Express in honour of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader and former head of the Jamhoori Wattan Party. Pakistan Railways suspended the train in 2010 due to lack of locomotives but was resumed on 25 April 2013.[1] and it was again suspended in March 2020 due to Covid 19.[2]
Route
[edit]Originally, the Quetta Express ran between Quetta and Peshawar via Rohri, Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi. Since being renamed to Akbar Express, the route has been shortened to Lahore via Faisalabad.
- Quetta–Rohri Junction via the Rohri–Chaman Railway Line
- Rohri Junction–Khanewal Junction via the Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line
- Khanewal Junction–Sangla Hill Junction via the Khanewal–Wazirabad Branch Line
- Sangla Hill Junction–Shahdara Bagh Junction via the Shahdara Bagh–Sangla Hill Branch Line
- Shahdara Bagh Junction–Lahore Junction via the Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line
Station stops
[edit]- Quetta
- Kolpur
- Mach
- Aab-e-Gum
- Sibi Junction
- Bakhtiarabad Domki
- Dera Murad Jamali
- Dera Allah Yar
- Jacobabad Junction
- Shikarpur
- Sukkur
- Rohri Junction
- Pano Akil
- Ghotki
- Mirpur Mathelo
- Sadiqabad
- Rahim Yar Khan
- Khanpur Junction
- Liaquatpur
- Dera Nawab Sahib
- Bahawalpur
- Jahanian
- Khanewal Junction
- Shorkot Cantonment Junction
- Toba Tek Singh
- Gojra
- Faisalabad
- Sangla Hill Junction
- Sheikhupura
- Lahore Junction[3]
Equipment
[edit]Akbar Express consists of ten coaches and four rakes with AC Standard, First Class Sleeper and Economy Class accommodations.[3] [4]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Van | AC Standard | Economy | Economy | Economy | First Class Sleeper | Economy | Economy | Economy | Brake Van |
Incidents
[edit]On Sept 26, 2002, Quetta Express derailed near Sibi resulting 7 dead and 57 injured.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Quetta Express resumes operation, Publisher: Pakistan Observer, Published on 25 April 2013, Retrieved on 26 April 2013
- ^ Azad, Abdul Rasheed (1 March 2024). "No decision yet to restore operations of Akbar Bugti Express: PR CEO". Business Recorder. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Pakistan Railways Trains". pakistanrail.tripod.com. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ^ "Akbar Express Time Table". www.pakinformation.com/. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- ^ "Seven killed as train derails near Sibi: Old bridge collapses". DAWN.COM. 27 September 2002. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
